true beauty

Today my dear friend Keri enters into discernment with the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Alma, Michigan. She sent out an e-mail last night that I wanted to share the majority of here in hopes that it might bless your day as it did for me.

God bless you Keri. See you in the Eucharist...

love,
nicole


My beloved friends in Notre Dame,

Tomorrow afternoon, I enter discernment with the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Alma, MI. Some of you may be hearing this news for the very first time. Others have personally walked with me amidst the details of this journey toward Christ’s loving call. Regardless, you all have touched my life in a way that formed and molded me to take this step toward a closer, more intimate union with Jesus. On the eve of this ”yes”, I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all the inspiring and life-giving relationships in my life. How I wish I would have been blessed to have time with each of you, in-person or over the phone, to express my great gratitude for your presence and your witness to me. Please know of my profound thankfulness for the imprint each of you has left on my heart.


A note on my community: The Religious Sisters of Mercy (www.rsmofalma.org) are a vibrant group of Catholic nuns, most of whom are physicians, lawyers, and academics. This growing, dynamic order is a striking embodiment of John Paul II's reflections on "the feminine genius". I am drawn to their distinct charism, as it resonates with my desires to serve the impoverishments in modern America and the greater universal Church. Moreover, I am fortunate that my professional degrees from Yale Medical School and Harvard's Kennedy School might provide assistance in the order’s apostolic ministries.

In order to fully and freely enter this period of discernment, I lovingly release my relationships to God’s will. I trust that His abounding love will continue to transcend time and distance. Our spiritual communion unites us more closely than we could ever imagine.

Website: http://www.rsmofalma.org/

I look forward to the various ways our lives might interweave in future years, especially in the spiritual realm, according to God’s perfect plan.

May you be showered with abundant blessings, love, peace, and joy!

Keri Oxley


Keri then ended her letter with this quote:
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If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. - POPE BENEDICT XVI

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